“As for why you were ambushed in the forest, it’s because the high-ranking members of the Wood Tribe had long since altered the surveillance range of the Dream Luo Trees in border areas like the Blackleaf Forest. The young mistress was likely detected by these trees the moment she entered. Fortunately, the Wood Tribe leadership didn’t prioritize the Blackleaf Forest, assigning only a lower-tier Silver-rank Wood Spirit to oversee it. Had it been any other forest, even with my assistance, escaping would have been nearly impossible,” the woman said gravely.
“So that’s it! Sister Chu, you’ve truly endured much hardship these past thousand years,” the young girl murmured, her expression shifting slightly.
“It’s nothing. My years among the Wood Tribe weren’t wasted—I’ve uncovered many of their secrets, which should suffice as a report to our clan. But now that I’m exposed, I can no longer remain here,” Ye Chu replied nonchalantly.
Han Li’s heart stirred slightly at this.
“With a great battle likely imminent at Tianyuan City, even without this incident, the family head had already planned to recall you. Given your current cultivation level, continuing to lurk among the Wood Tribe would be a waste of your talents,” the white-robed girl chuckled softly.
However, the laughter seemed to aggravate her internal injuries, causing her to cough several times, her face growing even paler.
“Young mistress, are you alright? Should you take another ‘Phoenix Spirit Pill’?” Ye Chu asked anxiously upon seeing this.
“No need! I have few Phoenix Spirit Pills left, and I must save them for more critical uses,” the girl shook her head.
“Is Miss Ye’s injury severe?” Han Li’s eyes flickered.
“Taking a direct hit from that Silver-rank Wood Spirit—do you think it’s light?” the white-robed girl retorted, shooting Han Li a sidelong glance.
“If it’s a typical internal injury, I have several elixirs that might aid your recovery,” Han Li said calmly, flicking his sleeve to send several medicine bottles her way.
The girl raised an eyebrow, catching the bottles mid-air with a single hand. She opened each one, sniffing their contents.
“Miraculous Fungus Pills, Hundred Saints Pills, Spirit-Restoring Water… Brother Han is truly generous, offering such rare healing medicines. In that case, I won’t stand on ceremony,” she said, clearly well-versed in alchemy as she identified each pill with a look of astonishment.
Though someone of her status would naturally possess such medicines, it was still surprising to see a Nascent Soul cultivator produce so many at once.
Without hesitation, she pocketed all the bottles and swallowed a few pills on the spot, displaying remarkable trust in Han Li.
Han Li inwardly admired her decisiveness, though he suspected she likely had some secret technique to detect tampering in the pills.
“By the way, how did Brother Han find me? If I’m not mistaken, that concealment talisman earlier was a Silver Script Talisman. What’s its name? I’ve never seen such an advanced Silver Script Talisman before,” the girl inquired, her complexion improving after taking the pills, her eyes gleaming with curiosity about the Taiyi Veil-Clearing Talisman.
“I have some expertise in tracking. As for the talisman, it’s called the Taiyi Veil-Clearing Talisman, which I stumbled upon by chance. It’s indeed quite remarkable in concealment. I’m surprised Miss Ye saw through it so easily—even Void Refinement cultivators would struggle to detect it,” Han Li replied with a faint smile, turning the question back on her.
“My cultivation technique happens to counter most concealment methods, so seeing through your talisman isn’t unusual. Don’t dwell on it,” the girl said with a cryptic smile, her lips pursed.
Han Li could only chuckle wryly, knowing her explanation was evasive but unable to press further.
“I’m fine now! Sister Chu, you must have the Wood Tribe’s intelligence with you. While we have time, send the jade slip to Tianyuan City immediately to avoid further complications,” the girl suddenly addressed Ye Chu.
“Yes, young mistress,” the green-skinned woman replied promptly.
Han Li’s expression remained neutral, but inwardly, he was elated.
The white-robed girl retrieved a silver prismatic disk from her storage bracelet, while Ye Chu spat out an emerald-green jade slip from her mouth.
Han Li recognized the disk—he had one himself. It could teleport small objects back to Tianyuan City once before self-destructing. Since the girl was using hers, Han Li had no objections. These artifacts were reportedly newly developed by Tianyuan City’s master craftsmen. Had the half-phoenix brought one earlier, Han Li’s mission might have been unnecessary.
The girl cast a white incantation at the disk, causing it to glow brilliantly before transforming into a foot-wide milky-white formation that hovered and hummed softly.
“Hurry! Even a small teleportation array might attract the Wood Tribe,” she urged.
Understanding the urgency, Ye Chu tossed the jade slip into the formation, where it floated above the light.
With a solemn expression, the girl performed another hand seal. Silver runes emerged in the formation, and after a brief swirl, the jade slip vanished with a chime. The formation then collapsed, revealing the now-cracked and useless disk.
Han Li’s heart swelled with joy as he produced a cyan jade talisman—the half of the Long-Range Communication Talisman given by Tianyuan City’s elders—and stared intently at it.
The girl smiled, storing the broken disk and retrieving her own talisman, her eyes fixed on it. Ye Chu remained expressionless, standing quietly.
For a long moment, silence reigned.
After what felt like an eternity, both Han Li’s and the girl’s talismans lit up, displaying lines of text.
Han Li memorized every word eagerly. When the talisman was fully inscribed, the glow faded, leaving him beaming.
The message confirmed the method to lift the restrictions on the Dust-Dispelling Pill bottles, fulfilling their agreement. Tianyuan City had acknowledged their mission’s completion, restoring his freedom.
Thrilled, Han Li glanced at the white-robed girl on the distant boulder. She was still reading her talisman, but the curl of her lips betrayed her satisfaction.
Han Li wondered what rewards the city’s high-ranking cultivators had promised her to undertake such a perilous mission, as she had no need for Dust-Dispelling Pills.
“Well, Brother Han, did you get what you wanted?” the girl finally asked, storing her talisman with a smile.
“Indeed, I did,” Han Li replied.
“Then let’s leave immediately. Whatever your plans, I doubt you’d wish to linger within Wood Tribe territory,” she said meaningfully.
Han Li paused, studying her for a long moment before nodding slowly.
Pleased, the girl instructed the green-skinned woman, who summoned a foot-long wooden bird puppet. Under her incantation, the puppet expanded into a magnificent, life-like bird over thirty feet long.
Without hesitation, the girl and Ye Chu boarded. After a brief hesitation, Han Li followed.
At Ye Chu’s command, the wooden bird’s wings spread, and it shot away as a streak of yellow light.
Remarkably, neither Han Li nor the girl mentioned Long Dong or Xiao Hong throughout their entire encounter, as if the two had never existed.
Half a day after their departure, a silver streak arrived at the island, circled briefly, then vanished in the same direction as the wooden bird.
A month later, the yellow streak of the wooden bird streaked across a desolate plain. Since their departure, Ye Chu had driven the bird relentlessly, allowing no stops. Their relentless pace had brought them near the entrance of the Thread of Heaven.
Just as they began to relax, a tempest erupted ahead. Dark clouds churned, thunder roared, and the sky darkened ominously. Amid the cacophony, a deep, resonant growl echoed, exuding an indescribable majesty.
The white-robed girl and Ye Chu paled at the sound.
“What’s this…?” Han Li’s pupils contracted in uncertainty.
Suddenly, silver lightning arced through the clouds, revealing a colossal, mountain-like head with gleaming golden eyes that locked onto the distant wooden bird.
Under that chilling gaze, Han Li felt an icy dread seize his body, rendering him momentarily paralyzed.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage